Angelic Healing

Cindy Hogan

I have never thought of myself as a photographer, much less an artist.  After all, many of my photographs have consisted of shots with half-centered objects.  Although I could see them perfectly in my mind, somehow that perfect shot, that perfect image eluded me!  That is until there was David.  When my sweet, cherub-faced little boy was around 3-years-old, he would tell me stories of how he played with angels at night when he slept.  With the angels he would play ball, laugh, and play carefree, child-like games.  They would take him on amazing, airborne journeys and deliver him back safe to his bed.  He told me of one angel in particular, in a white dress adorned with beautiful, sparkly wings; she would fly around his room then sometimes disappear thru the wall.  David spoke of how they made him laugh and feel safe.

After hearing how happy and safe he felt, I began the nightly ritual of kissing him on the forehead, tucking in the sheets and saying, “Play with the angels”.  Sometimes he would enter my room at night distressed and crying because he was tired and wanted to sleep, but the angels wouldn’t let him.  He’d crawl into bed with me and fall fast asleep.

Little did I know that “playing with the angels” would be instrumental in saving my son's life and would also awaken the photographer within me.  Not long after the nightly ritual began, my son was diagnosed with a rare, heart condition.  This condition is most dangerous while sleeping and is often referred to as "Sleeping Death."  He now has a defibrillator implant that helps keep him safe and I now understand why the angels wouldn’t let him sleep.  I truly believe he was and still is under their loving and watchful eye.

My son’s experience with angels was the beginning of my artistic journey as well.  First it was as a hobby.  I would keep my camera always ready - eyes open for the beauty, the perfect image, the perfect shot.  I now go on photo excursions in search of angels, perhaps searching for the peaceful energy the angels have provided for my son.  Beauty found, I am lost.  I forget time.  Hunger does not intrude.  I am at that place of true peace.  With every photo I take, I heal.  With every photo I share, I heal. 

That piece of folk wisdom is true - you never know what is waiting for you around the next corner.  You never know who you will meet, who you will touch.  Each time I present my photos to public view, there are always those who are drawn to tell me their stories.  Stories of how the angels made their presence known to them.  My art brings back the emotion, the experience of the feelings.  We laugh, we cry, we share, but most of all, we Heal.

So here I am, the photographer, the unlikely artist, healing myself and others with a newly-discovered passion I never knew existed.  At least, not until I took that first photograph.  I know not what I was searching for, but what I found brought me peace and a beauty beyond words.  If asked to share my wisdom, I would say, “Whatever your passion, whatever your vision, just open your eyes as well as your heart and your path will become clear.” 

Cindy Hogan is originally from Houston, Texas.  She has always had a fascination with  Angels and has collected many over the years.  But it wasn’t until 1999 that she encountered “real life” angels and began her journey of healing.  To see more Images for your Soul,  please visit  www.shotsfromheaven.com